Napa County Court Records

People create California court records when interacting with any Napa County Superior Court division. These records may only include case details, docket entries, and preliminary hearings when cases end in mediation and settlements. However, Napa County court records also comprise motions, orders, witness statements and testimonies, disposition records, and evidence.

Case parties, lawyers, and other members of the public usually rely on these records for things like background checks, name changes, adoptions, criminal expungements, research, and other legal purposes. There are different ways to inspect or collect case records, from using online and offline methods offered by the Napa County Superior Court to engaging third-party services.

Are Court Records Public in Napa County?

Yes, the California Supreme Court maintains a policy of public transparency pursuant to Rule 2.503 of the judiciary rules. However, the state judiciary's preference for openness does not grant members of the public unlimited access to Napa County court records. Certain information and details are only accessible to authorized parties to protect individuals, government interests, and public safety.

People looking to obtain the following records will be denied if they lack statutory permission to access them:

• Certain Napa County arrest records containing sensitive investigative information
• Expunged and sealed court and law enforcement records
• Financial information, such as credit card numbers and bank details
• Information that may uncover protected information about victims in certain cases and confidential informants
• Subpoenaed business records
• Family court records, such as cases involving children and conciliation matters

Napa County Court Records Search

Finding Napa County court records is a straightforward process. Individuals can opt to use free online resources if they only want to view basic case information. People who wish to view or order documents can visit the courthouse division where the cases are heard. For example, one can visit the Brown Street courthouse to view order civil records and Third Street for criminal case files and information.

Third-party resources are also available for individuals who want to access various Napa County public records from one search field. These services are generally unaffiliated with the county government and superior court, but they source their records from statutorily recognized custodians.

Napa County Court Records Search by Name

Name searches are the predominant features in online search tools provided by the county's superior court. Individuals are allowed to use the names of case parties, attorneys, and judicial officers to find records. Name variations, such as nicknames and similarly spelt names, can also be used to initiate a search. Additionally, people can also request name searches from court staff. However, they may have to pay if the search takes more than 10 minutes of court staff's time.

Third-party websites also offer name searches to simplify the research process and may also charge customers for access.

Napa County Courts

Napa County Court records are generated and maintained by different divisions of the Superior Court in the following locations:

Juvenile Hall Courthouse
2350 Old Sonoma Road
Napa, CA 94559
Phone: (707) 299-1100

Juvenile Filing Division
Historic Courthouse
825 Brown Street, First Floor
Napa, CA 94559
Phone: (707) 299-1291

Criminal Courthouse
1111 Third Street
Napa, CA 94559
Phone: (707) 299-1180

Historic Courthouse
825 Brown Street
Napa, CA 94559
Phone: (707) 299-1130

Napa County Superior Court Case Search

The Napa County Superior Court handles every legal proceeding in the county. It comprises the civil, criminal, family, small claims, juvenile, and traffic divisions.

To access the records they seek, one can visit the division that handled a specific case. However, one must understand the availability of certain records and the measures one must take to obtain them.

For instance, only authorized individuals can access certain records generated in family and juvenile courts.

People looking to view basic information, such as charges, events and hearings, and case disposition, can do so using the court's case lookup portal. They can search by attorney name and bar number, business name, case cross-reference number, party name, citation number, nickname, and case number. They can also filter searches by case type, status, and filing date.

To view and order court documents, interested parties can visit the courthouse or submit mail-in requests. They must fill out the criminal records request or Civil, Family, and Probate Records Request form, depending on the type of documents they seek. They can submit their requests using the following address information:

Civil, Family, and Probate
825 Brown Street
1st Floor
Napa, CA 94559
Phone: (707) 299-1140

Criminal, Minor Offense, and Traffic
1111 Third Street
1st Floor
Napa, CA 94559
Phone: (707) 299-1180

Requesters should be mindful of the following fees:

• Plain copies: 50 cents per page
• Certified Copies: $40
• Searches longer than 10 minutes: $15 per search

Napa County District Court Records

Napa County does not have a district court, as every court case in the county is handled by the Superior Court:

Napa County Criminal Records

People looking to obtain criminal information may be interested in Napa County arrest records created by local law enforcement bodies. While they are a part of the broader Napa County criminal records, some arrest information and details do not make it to court databases.

If a person's loved one was apprehended and placed in confinement by a local police department or the sheriff's office, they can contact the arresting agency or the county's corrections department. Approaching these agencies should be the first step in obtaining information about the incident, especially when the arrested individual is still awaiting their first court appearance.

One can visit or contact the agency's records division or use available online resources.

The corrections department operates online systems called Bookings and In Custody reports. They provide public access to information about arrested and confined individuals, including their names and descriptions, charges and bail information, and arrest date and time.

Napa County Criminal Court Case Lookup

Napa criminal records are court documents and data generated when arrested individuals are prosecuted through the county's criminal court. Some Napa arrest records are also part of criminal records since they are included in case filings for arraignment and trial proceedings.

People can visit the Superior Court's criminal division, fill out and submit the criminal records request form, or use the court's online portal to find, view, and order criminal case records.

Get Napa County Civil Court Records

Civil court cases do not adjudicate offenses against the state. Instead, they address matters where plaintiffs allege wrongdoings against defendants and seek relief. Defendants and plaintiffs can be individuals and organizations. These cases are heard in the supreme court's civil division.

Interested parties can also search the case lookup tool to find details about these cases. Visiting the courthouse or submitting a completed Civil, Family, and Probate Records Request Form are the only ways they can view and get court documents. People looking to view or order court documents are advised to use the online tool for research to enable them to provide case numbers for their requests. That way, they can avoid paying the extra fees for court-assisted research that go beyond 10 minutes.

Napa County Family Court Records

Family court cases are proceedings that handle child custody, parental disputes, adoption, guardianship, marriage dissolution, and domestic violence and civil assault matters. They are handled in the Supreme Court's family division. Like other divisions, individuals can view case records through the case lookup portal. They can also approach the division to inquire about obtaining or inspecting case documents.

However, not all family court records are available to the general public. Only case parties and other legally authorized individuals are allowed to view most case records.

Napa Dissolution of Marriage Records

Dissolution of marriage records are created in the Superior Court's family division. They involve proceedings where couples legally end their marriages, typically through divorce actions. Documents created during these matters include divorce decrees and filed documents, such as motions and evidence. They can be obtained through the California department of public health's vital statistics office or the Napa County superior court.

Only certified copies of divorce action fact sheets from 1962 to June 1984 can be ordered through the DPH's vital records division. They are also called certificates of record or dissolution of marriage certificates. Interested parties must fill out the Application for Certificate of Record For a Divorce, attach the $16 (per copy) fee, and mail the package to:

California Department of Public Health Vital Records
MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento CA, 95899-7410

People looking to order complete divorce decrees and records not available through the DPH can approach the Napa County Superior Court using the following information:

825 Brown Street, First Floor
Napa, CA 94559
Phone: (707) 299-1130

Each certified copy costs $15 through the Clerk of Superior Court's office. However, obtaining other records which may include multiple court papers may cost more.

Napa County Marriage and Divorce Records

Divorce papers can be obtained by following the process explained earlier for dissolution of marriage records. Getting other Napa County marriage records, such as copies of marriage certificates and licenses, involves going through the Napa County recorder-clerk's office and the DPH's vital records division.

One must be legally authorized to obtain a Napa County marriage certificate, and they must produce a sworn statement supporting that fact. Authorized entities include:

• The registrants (spouses named on the certificate)
• Either registrant's child, parent, grandchild, grandparent, sibling, spouse, legal representative, or domestic partner
• A party who has obtained a relevant court order
• A law enforcement or other government agent authorized by law
• Any entity appointed by a court or authorized by law (power of attorney) to represent the registrant or their estate

The CDPH's Vital Records division provides documents created from 1905 to 1999 and 2008 to 2023. Individuals can request them using the division's online and mail-in methods. To submit a request by mail, one must complete the Application for a Certified Copy of Marriage Record form (includes sworn statement instructions), attach the required fee ($17 per copy) and send it to:

California Department of Public Health Vital Records
MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento CA, 95899-7410

People looking to get certificates not covered by the department can get them through the clerk's office.

Napa Birth and Death Records

Birth and death records in Napa County are the property of the county clerk's office. They are also classed as Napa County vital records like marriage certificates, and people can obtain them online, in person, and by mail.

These records are required to facilitate various legal, financial, and social processes. For example, Napa County birth records can help individuals enroll in schools, apply for social security, and complete driver's license and passport applications. Death certificates, on the other hand, are required to settle the affairs of deceased people and conclude succession activities.

However, only authorized individuals can apply for these records. They include:

• The registrant (person named on the certificate)
• Family members, such as spouses, children, siblings, parents, legal guardians, or domestic partners.
• The registrant's attorney or anyone authorized by law to manage their estate.
• Certain governmental agencies
• Parties with required court orders

Birth certificates cost $32 per copy, and death certificates cost $24 per copy.

To obtain a Napa County birth certificate older than 12 months or recently recorded death certificate in person, individuals must fill out the in-person birth record or death record application form and sign a sworn statement with a vital records staff present. They can visit the following address:

2751 Napa Valley Corporate Drive
Building B, 1st Floor
Napa, CA 94558

Mail-in requesters must send a completed Napa County birth certificate or death certificate form, notary public-approved sworn statement, and copy fee to the following address:

Napa County Vital Statistics
2751 Napa Valley Corporate Drive
Napa, CA 94558

Individuals can also use the office's online option provided by a third-party vendor.

Further, the California Department of Health's Vital Records division can provide Napa County birth records and death certificates, and individuals can apply by mail and online. People intending to mail in their request must fill out the DPH's birth certificate or death certificate application form (includes sworn statement instructions) and send it to:

California Department of Public Health Vital Records
MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento CA, 95899-7410

The state's fees for copies of birth and death certificates are:

Birth certificate: $29 per copy

Death certificate: $24 per copy

Napa County Probate Court Records

Probate proceedings are generally set up after the death of an individual to settle their wills, trusts, and estates. Probate actions can also be initiated for the conservatorships and guardianships of minor and certain adults. These cases are heard in the Superior Court's civil division and produce documents called probate records.

Individuals can use the online, in-person, and mail-in methods to view and request these records from the superior court.

Napa County Property Records

Property records are crucial information and documents required for verifying property ownership, assessment, and other details before continuing any transaction or transfer. It helps homeowners to confirm that they are paying the right taxes and plays a critical role in other dealings like refinancing, mortgages, and appraisals, and legal proceedings.

Property records are part of Napa County public records and can be accessed through the County Assessor-Recorder-Clerk and Treasurer/tax collector.

Napa County assessor-recorder-clerk

The office of the assessor-recorder-clerk is responsible for the following:

• Property document filings, such as deeds, conveyances, mortgages, and other real estate documents.
• Assessing real estate properties within the county to determine their accurate tax rates.

Documents received and generated by the office can be accessed online through the clerk's free Official Records tool, subscription-based online search service, and assessment web system.

The official records portal allows members of the public to search records by name and view an index of available documents for their search terms. It only shows the document ID, name the document was indexed with, date recorded, and document title.

The subscription area allows users to view and print documents. Intending subscribers must fill out the Online Access Sign-Up form and pay the $4,316 annual fee.

The Assessor Parcel Data web system contains property information, such as the property type, tax rate area, assessor parcel number, building description, and roll values. People can search the database by providing a street address, fee parcel number, and assessment number.

People who want to view filed maps and corner records (prepared by the County Surveyor) can search the Assessor Parcel Map database by location, parcel number, corner record name, surveyor name, and filed map book and page.

Individuals can call or visit the Assessor-Recorder-Clerk's office using the following information to make further inquiries about purchasing documents:

1127 1st Street
Suite A
Napa, CA 94559
Phone: (707) 253-4105 (Recorder), (707) 253-4467 (Assessor)

Napa County Treasurer-Tax Collector

The county's treasurer-tax collector office also provides offline and online methods for accessing tax-related property information. They contact the office using the following information to inquire about those records:

1195 Third Street
Suite 108
Napa, CA 94559
Phone: (707) 253-4327
Fax: (707) 253-4337

The online method involves using the property tax portal to pull up tax information on specific real estate assets. It also allows people to pay off outstanding taxes. To search the database, site users can provide the tax roll year (earlier years are for research purposes) and fee parcel number, street address, or assessment number.

Napa County Court Records Online

Finding Napa court records and other public data may be time-consuming because of the requirements of official repositories and custodians. Using third-party services like Californiacourtrecords.us will eliminate the extra processes and help individuals find what they want from one platform. These services are private businesses and do not have official partnerships with the Napa County government or Superior Court. Instead, they collate data in bulk from these public entities and resell it to customers using streamlining methods.